Open Applications Group's purpose is to define and promote a unifying standard for eBusiness and Application Software interoperability that reduces customer cost and time to deploy solutions (see http://www.openapplications.org). In order to fulfil this mission, the Open Applications Group not only takes on responsibility for the XML dialect OAGIS, but also offers companies a forum for the exchange of information in which topics such as integration, best practices, user demands and the propagation of OAGIS can be discussed.

OAGIS 9.1 is available in GEFEG.FX for further processing, including specification, testing and documentation. The previous versions OAGIS 9.0 & 8.0 are also delivered with the software product.

For additional information please email us at info@gefeg.com.

Why was OAGIS developed?

The need for such interoperability was recognized in the mid-1990s by leading American software manufacturers, who joined together in a consortium to create a solution. The non-profit Open Applications Group, Inc. (OAGI) was founded in 1995 by ERP software specialists including American Software, CODA Financials, Dun & Bradstreet, Marcam, SAP, PeopleSoft and Software 2000.

The approach was to apply the "plug & play" principle to software integration. This basic theoretical concept was published as a white paper, and its implementation in a proof-of-concept demonstration was presented in 1995.

The "Open Applications Group's Integration Specification", published in 1996, was the first specification to implement the concept. In 1999, XML was integrated in the specification as a meta-data language. The business object documents, or BODs, which represent the basic transactions are drafted based on XML. BODs include Add PO, Cancel PO, Get Pricelist, Load Receivables, and many more.

OAGIS undergoes continuous expansion and development. The latest revision as published by OAGI is available to the public from the OAGI web site.